ELIZABETHTON, TENN. - The Elizabethton River Rider bats struggled to get going through four innings on Monday night, and things looked even worse following a bases-loaded situation with nobody out in the bottom of the fifth in which they failed to score.
The Doughboys put up two runs in the first and two in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead. However, things changed in the sixth en route to a comeback win for the River Riders.
Following a lead-off walk to Avery Owusu-Asiedu (SIUE), Harrison Rodgers (Colorado Mesa) hammered a long home run that hugged the right field line and stayed fair to cut the lead in half. Then, following a couple of walks to Gilbert Saunders (Minnesota) and Brendan Jones (Kansas State), Marcus Sanders (Phoenix College) ripped a double down the right field line and scored Saunders with Jones on a throwing error to tie the game at four.
In the seventh, the River Riders loaded the bases, which followed by bases-loaded walks to Issac Willians (New Orleans) and Saunders to bring in two more runs. Elizabethton then scored an additional run in the eighth on a Rodgers infield single to score Pepe Soto (Rogers State).
Evan Loeser (North Greenville) closed out the final three innings for the River Riders and was fantastic, not giving up a hit and striking out six to keep Johnson City off the board. Carter Lovasz (William and Mary) started the game for the River Riders, pitching four innings, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out two and took the no-decision. Jacob Bockenstedt threw four shoutout innings for Johnson City, striking out eight, while Brogan Beckner took the loss for the Doughboys.
Elizabethton moved to 4-1 while Johnson City dropped to 0-5. Up next, the two teams close out the series on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. start time as the River Riders look for the sweep against the Doughboys. You can watch the game live at www.appalachianleague.univtec.com/home.
